The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW), had organised the National Tribal Health Conclave 2025, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. 

About National Tribal Health Conclave

• This Conclave is an initiative under the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan.
• It is aimed at addressing the critical health and well-being challenges faced by India’s tribal communities.
• Objectives of the Conclave:
  • Facilitate discussions to explore innovative healthcare delivery models for tribal regions.
  • Identify priority areas for policy interventions and research.
  • Develop culturally appropriate health strategies to enhance health-seeking behavior.
  • Strengthen healthcare systems through capacity building, community engagement, and monitoring mechanisms.
  • Create a comprehensive action plan to improve healthcare access and outcomes in tribal areas.

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Key Efforts and Initiatives in Tribal Healthcare

• National Sickle Cell Elimination Mission: It launched to target the eradication of sickle cell anemia by 2047. 
• Bhagwan Birsa Munda Chair of Tribal Health and Haematology: Established at AIIMS Delhi, this chair serves as a multi-disciplinary platform for research and data collection on tribal health.
• Centres of Competence (CoC): 15 CoCs have been sanctioned in 14 states to enable advanced and prenatal diagnosis of sickle cell anemia, a prevalent genetic condition in tribal populations.
• Collaborative Approach: MoTA is working closely with MoH&FW, MoAYUSH, MoWCD, NHM, AIIMSs, CoCs, ICMR, UN agencies, NGOs, and state tribal welfare departments to ensure effective healthcare delivery.

Healthcare Challenges Faced by the Tribal Communities

• Geographical Barriers: Many tribal communities live in isolated, hard-to-reach areas, making access to healthcare services difficult.
  • Almost 90 percent (89.97%) of the ST population lives in rural areas.
• Limited Health Centers: Few healthcare facilities are available in tribal areas, and existing ones often lack basic resources, medical staff, and equipment.
• Shortage of Healthcare Workers: There’s a significant shortage of trained medical professionals in rural and tribal regions.
• Cultural Differences: Tribal communities may have their own traditional health practices and beliefs, leading to reluctance in seeking modern medical care.
  • Different tribal groups speak various languages and dialects, creating communication challenges with healthcare providers.
• Poverty: Many tribal populations live below the poverty line, making it difficult for them to afford healthcare services and medications.
• • Over 70% of STs lie in the lowest wealth quintiles, according to the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-21).
  • Over 45% of members of the STs were living below the poverty line in rural areas and over 25% lived in urban areas, according to the MoTA in its 2021-22 Annual Report. 
• Malnutrition: Poor nutrition due to lack of access to food and education about health often contributes to higher rates of diseases.
• • Although malnutrition among tribal children has shown a declining trend, the prevalence of underweight is almost one and a half times more in tribal children than in the ‘other’ groups.
• Vulnerable to Specific Health Issues: Tribal communities are more susceptible to diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, and malnutrition, due to poor sanitation and living conditions.
• • STs account for nearly 50% of all malaria-related deaths in India, despite constituting about 8% of the total population.

Way Forward

• Development of Healthcare Infrastructure: Invest in building well-equipped hospitals, clinics, and primary healthcare centers in tribal regions and aspirational districts.
• Strengthening Human Resources in Healthcare: Hire healthcare professionals, including doctors and nurses in tribal areas.
• Promoting Health Education and Awareness: Organize health education campaigns focusing on preventive care, hygiene, and disease management in remote tribal areas.
• Expanding Outreach through Mobile Health Services and telemedicine: Deploy mobile healthcare units to provide essential services like screenings, immunizations, and treatments in remote areas.
• Incorporating Culturally Sensitive Healthcare Models: Respect and integrate traditional healing practices with modern medical systems.
• Encouraging Community Participation: Involve tribal leaders, representatives, and local organizations in planning and implementing healthcare programs.

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